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You are promoting the upcoming documentary Wrestling
with Disaster - so in a few words, what is it about?
Wrestling with Disaster is a very intimate and
personal view into the lives of pro and amateur wrestlers, what drives
them and what keeps them going in the face of extreme physical, mental,
and emotional adversity.
What got you involved with the project in the first place, and
what drew you to the subject? Anthony Bruno had told me
about his project while we were at the Chiller Theatre convention in
New Jersey to promote Celluloid Bloodbath: More Prevues from
Hell last October. I knew this was going to be
something special and I wholly supported him from the beginning.
Cory Kastle, Debra Lamb, Anthony Bruno |
Please
talk about Wrestling with Disaster's director/mastermind Anthony
Bruno [Anthony Bruno interview -
click here] for a bit, and what's your collaboration like? Anthony
is a very dedicated, talented, and ambitious filmmaker. He has
already worked on two films, Celluloid Bloodbath: More Prevues
from Hell (editor/sound editor), and the award winning short
film, The Fay (sound effects editor), and
he is currently working on the script for his next film following Wrestling
with Disaster, which will be a romantic comedy. He is
also about to graduate from the Temple University of Philadelphia
where he is a film major. I had worked on Celluloid
Bloodbath as well, as one of the celebrity commentators,
offering witty quips about Let's Scare Jessica to Death,
It's Alive, and a few others. We met
at Chiller Theatre while promoting Celluloid
Bloodbath last year, struck up a friendship, and the
rest, as they say, is history. Anthony shared his Wrestling
with Disaster idea with me and I just knew
that this wasn't going to be just another wrestling documentary--this was
going to be uniquely told. I was very impressed with his film knowledge
and even more so with his passion, and I knew it was going to be the
perfect project for his directorial debut.
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Will you be making an appearance in front of the camera in
Wrestling with Disaster - please talk about that for a bit!
We considered it. We were planning on having me interview a couple of
women who, although not wrestlers themselves, are well known in the
wrestling world. Anthony and I thought it would be interesting
to get another perpective by having me interview the wives of a
couple of the biggest names in wrestling. However, when Anthony
asked me to join him and Cory Kastle, the dynamic duo already had such an
abundance of exciting footage from all the wrestling events they've been
attending, and so many poignant and heartfelt interviews, I felt I would
best serve them and the film by making my contribution quietly behind the
scenes.
Now
what most people who know you from horror movies might not know: You do
have an actual background in wrestling and have trained with none other
than Benny "The Jet" Urquidez - now what got you into wrestling
in the first place, what can you tell us about
Debra Lamb the wrestler, and about training with Benny the Jet?
I
started ballet when I was seven years old and performed with the Portland
Rec's and Park Ballet Company for the next seven years, but had to
leave the company when my mother moved me and my little sister to Los
Angeles when I was fourteen. I took dance classes at
Beverly Hills High School and then Santa Monica High School, and when I
graduated, I continued to take dance at local studios. I knew I
wanted to pursue an acting career and I started off, like so many, with
taking modeling jobs, and pretty much anything I could get. During
those early years I ended up getting a lot of dancing parts, and I
met a dancer who worked at the famous Hollywood Tropicana as a mud
wrestler. It sounded like fun, so I auditioned for a job as one of
the wrestlers. I worked there for about five months or so
before moving on, during which time I became friends with several women
who worked there who were actual wrestlers--they turned me on to the
wonderful world of wrestling!
Trashy Ladies Wrestling |
Soon
after I was offered the role of Justine "the dominant one" in a
rompy wrestling video entitled Trashy Ladies Wrestling,
which featured a variety of colorful characters. We trained for three weeks
with none other than kickboxing and martial arts legend, Benny
"The Jet" Urquidez, at his gym in Woodland Hills. I
fell in love with kickboxing and continued training at the gym for the
next few months. I was also training with a group of female
wrestlers who were affilated with G.L.O.W., Gorgeous Ladies of
Wrestling.
I was cast in a video in which we had non-choreographed, collegiate-style
wrestling matches. I was able to win a few matches and at the end of
the day it was just me and another female wrestler. I gave it my
all, but she was the more skilled athlete, and she finally pinned me,
winning the title. A few months later I was told by the producers
that I was gaining a following and the fans loved me, and they wanted me
back to do more videos!
What
made you eventually quit wrestling, and looking back on it from today's
point of view, your thoughts about that part of your career?
By the time I was invited back to perform in additional
wrestling videos, my acting career was taking off, and I was quite busy.
As much as I enjoyed wrestling, my focus was on my acting career, and I
was afraid that I would become known as a wrestler rather than an actor,
so I hung up my wrestling shoes. To this day, I have great
admiration for wrestling and all the dedication and skill it requires.
You have to keep yourself in top physical condition and remain mentally
alert to avoid serious injury. I'm very fortunate that I got to do
something so physical--it's something that I never imagined that I would
be a part of!
What can you tell us about the wrestlers you worked with on Wrestling
with Disaster, and has your work on the documentary in any way changed
your views on wrestling?
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Anthony has had an insane shooting schedule since January, when
all this wonderful craziness began--and Cory's been by his side since very
early on. I just can't say enough about this dynamic duo--I
seriously don't know how they do it! Since starting to promote the movie earlier this year,
I've become acquainted with many of the wrestlers and their personal
stories. I feel like I've been invited into the private lives
of "The Genius" Lanny Poffo, "The Pitbull" Gary Wolf,
Warlord, and Kevin Sullivan, and I haven't even met them. I
just know how they have welcomed Anthony and Cory with open
arms, and how their stories have touched them. And of course, Cory
Kastle has a dramatic story to tell as well, making a miraculous
comeback after recovering from brain surgery. Also, I want to
mention the kindness that Fred "Tugboat" Ottman and his
wife Sheila showed Anthony and Cory during their recent trip to
Florida. They opened their hearts and their home to them--such
wonderful people! I can't say that working on this project has
changed my view on wrestling, since I've already had my own
close friendships with the female wrestlers I worked with early on in
my career, but I do hope that this documentary opens the hearts and
minds of many.
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Anthony Bruno |
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Cory Kastle |
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Is it true that you've actually recorded a song for Wrestling
with Disaster - and what can you tell us about Debra Lamb, the singer?
I
haven't actually recorded it yet, but yes, I am writing a song for the
film. I've been working very closely with a very talented musician,
Jonathan Smith, who came on board as an associate producer earlier this
year. He and I have become very good friends, and we're collaborating
on two songs together to start, but we have plans for more.
I've
been writing poetry and song lyrics since I was a kid, and when I was
nineteen I put a band together. My drummer was Matt Skerritt, son
of actor Tom Skerritt. The band was short-lived, but it was a great
experience and so much fun. Years later I recorded a song, "Fire
and Ice", was up for a rap recording contract, and sang background
vocals on my friend Millicent Sheridan's CD.
Though it might be waaay too early to ask, any idea when and where
the movie will be released onto the general public yet?
I can't say yet as to when it'll be distributed, but Anthony hopes to
wrap up filming by the beginning of the year and have it
completed and ready to start submitting to film festivals by summer
of 2014.
Any future projects beyond Wrestling with Disaster?
Anthony and I will definitely be working together again in the not so
distant future. Meanwhile, I'm also working with director Joe Hollow [Joe
Hollow interview - click here] on Cannibals, which is currently in
pre-production. I'm working alongside our line producer,
Eric Anthony Pereira, and producer, Angelina Armani. Stay
tuned!
Your/your movie's website, Facebook, whatever else?
The Wrestling with Disaster website: http://wrestlingwithdisasterthemovie.com/
IMDb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3161478/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WrestlingwithDisaster
Hash tags: #wrestling
The Debra Lamb website: http://thedebralamb.com/
Anything else you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten
to ask?
Yes--I'd like to invite everyone to watch this sneak peek clip of
Lanny Poffo giving a poignant account of his brother, Randy
"Macho Man" Savage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWTrYxmmSnw&list=HL1383103924
Thanks for the interview!
Thank you so very much, Michael--it was my pleasure. And
thank you for helping us for getting the word out!
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